Ford prices C-Max plug-in at $33,745 before tax credit

View full sizeFord U.S. Representative John D. Dingell of Michigan rides in Ford's new C-MAX Energi Plug-in hybrid. Both the C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid vehicles will be produced at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. on June 15.

DEARBORN, MI- The C-Max Energi will be “America’s most affordable plug-in hybrid,” according to Ford Motor Co.

The Dearborn-based automaker earlier today said its first production plug-in hybrid will be available this fall starting at $33,745 -- before a $3,750 federal tax credit. With the tax credit, the vehicle will start at about $30,000.

According to Ford, officials have said that the costs of its current hybrid system are 30 percent less than the costs of automaker’s previous-generation hybrid systems due in large part to those cost-containment efforts.

“It offers exceptional fuel economy, better features and a better price tag than a Prius plug-in hybrid, which we think will help make C-Max Energi one of our most attractive vehicles for import customers,” said Michael O’Brien, Ford electrified vehicle marketing manager, in a statement.

Ford expects about half of C-Max buyers to trade in competitive models – one of the highest conquest rates of any Ford vehicle. C-Max Energi will soon be available for order at Ford Certified EV Dealers. Starting today, consumers are expected to be able to build and price their plug-in hybrid at Ford’s website.

C-Max Energi is part of Ford’s first dedicated line of hybrid vehicles in North America.

By 2020, Ford anticipates to have 10 to 25 percent of its global fleet electrified with plug-in or hybrid technology. Of that 2020 lineup, Ford expects hybrids to be 70 percent of the fleet, hybrid-plug-ins to be 20-25 percent and all-electric vehicles to remain a niche market of about 5 percent.

C-Max Energi will be produced at Ford’s Wayne, Mich.-based Michigan Assembly Plant alongside the new C-Max Hybrid, Focus, Focus Electric and Focus ST.

Check back to MLive.com later today for more information on the C-Max Energi.